Wire connecter



April 17, 1934. E Q MALONEY 1,955,005

WIRE CONNECTER Filed D90. 4. 1930 Ill/11112 711! Patented Apr. 17, 1 934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to connecters for coupling the ends of electric conductors, and more particularly to coupling members for connecting long distance circuits in telephone and telegraph systems.

In telephone and telegraph systems and espe cially in long distance circuits, the conductors comprising the circuit must be securely joined together and it is essential that the connection between the conductors be clean and kept clean at all times so that the current can freely flow along the conductors. When the connection becomes loose or dirty it increases the resistance making a variable current, resulting in noisy conversation.

The object of this invention is to provide a coupling member for electric conductors that will provide a connection that will tightly secure the conductors together, clean and free from dirt at all times, form a positive contact between the conductors so that the current will flow evenly along the conductors and eliminate noisy conversation in the circuit.

These and other objects of this invention,

which are readily apparent to those skilled in this articular art, accomplished by means of this invention, one embodiment of which is described the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing; wherein Figure l is a view in perspective of my improved coupling;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the sleeve comprising a portion of my coupling;

Fig. 3 is a view in cross section of the end coupling member; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in section of a modifled form of the coupling member.

Referring to the drawing, 11 represents a copper sleeve having longitudinal passageways 12 4 and 13 through which the ends of conductors l4 and 15 are extended. When the conductors are inserted in the passageways, the sleeve is twisted, as indicated in Figure l, to securely hold the two conductors together. Joints of this type have been used heretofore but they have proved unsatisfactory, since the action of the weather on the conductors in the passageways would make a dirty connection between the conductors and the sleeve resulting in noisy conversation over that circuit.

In my improved type of connecter the ends of the conductors extending beyond the sleeve are supported in a coupling member having an internal cavity into which the ends of the conductors extend. The cavity is filled with mercury or some other plastic fluid conductor forming a clean positive connection between the conductors. My improved connection, which may be used in conjunction with the above described sleeve or alone, comprises a coupling member 16 provided with a longitudinally extending passageway 1'7, one end of which is provided with left-handed threads, as at 18, while the other end is provided with right-handed threads, as at 19, so that the coupling may readily be secured to the ends of the conductors, one of which is provided with left hand threads and the other with right hand threads, by turning the coupling in one direction.

The coupling is provided with recesses 20 on one end thereof which form a wrench flat permitting the coupling to be readily tightened on the ends of the conductors.

The coupling member 16 is also provided with an opening 21 which is perpendicular to the pars sageway l7 and forms, in conjunction with the passageway, a cavity 22 in the coupling member. To insure a clean positive connection between the ends of the conductors, a drop of mercury or some other conducting medium or plastic conductor is inserted into the cavity. When mercury is used as a fluid to connect the two conductors in the coupling member, the mercury will in time amalganiate the ends of the wires and the walls of the cavity, forming a clean and positive contact at all times between the conductors. The use of plastic fluids in the cavity assures an evenly distributed circuit at all times, since a portion of the fluid is in contact with each conductor regardless of the angle at which the coupling member is positioned. The mercury, or other plastic fluid, is retained in the cavity by a set screw 23.

To maintain the coupling member 16 on the conductors and to prevent it from turning so as to loosen the connection, a copper band 24 having apertured ends is placed around the sleeve member 9 11 in such a way that the apertured ends of the band are positioned over the opening 21 and are fastened to the coupling member by the cap screw 23. The band 24 securely locks the coupling member in place on the conductors and prevents it from turning and twisting so as to injure the contact between the conductors.

Other suitable means for locking the coupling to the wires, such as a center punch in the coupling, may be employed without departing from my invention.

The coupling member 16 may be made from any suitable material such as glass or any metal desired. When the coupling member is used in conjunction with the sleeve a stronger connection is obtained and less strain is placed on the conductors because the sleeve does not require as much twisting as when used alone, and, consequently, the conductors are not weakened by too much twisting.

In Figure 4, I have described a modified form of a coupling member which has an internal cavity 26, provided with threaded openings 27 and 28 for receiving the ends of the conductors. The mercury or plastic fluid forming a connection between the conductors is inserted into the cavity through an opening 29 and is retained therein by a set screw 30. In this modification, the cavity in the coupling is larger than previously described so that the ends of the conductors will extend into the cavity and be immersed in the plastic fluid. Such a coupling is especially adapted for use in splicing the ends of woven cables and the like.

In certain instances the mercury or plastic fluid in thecavity of the coupling may be omitted, for example, when the coupling is being used to join the ends of wires in lead covered cables. In such a case, it would be unnecessary to use the mercury as there is a lead sleeve wiped over the splice which excludes air and weather and making a clean and positive connection between the ends of the wires in the cable.

While I have described one embodiment of my invention, it is readily apparent that certain changes, substitutions and omissions may be made therein without departing from the spirit of this invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A joint for electric wires comprising in combination a sleeve member having a pair of wire receiving passageways, said sleeve being adapted to be twisted after the wires are inserted therethrough for fastenin the wires together, a coupling member for joining the ends of the wires extending beyond said sleeve member and having an internal cavity into which the ends of the wires extend, a conducting medium in said cavity, and means for locking said coupling member to said sleeve member.

2. A joint for electric conductors or other wires comprising in combination a coupling member having a longitudinally extending passageway therein, the central portion of which is hollowed out to form a recess of greater diameter than the ends of passageway, the ends of said passageway being threaded to receive the threaded ends of the conductors, a conducting medium in said recess surrounding the ends of said conductors; a sleeve member having a pair of longitudinally extending passageways through which the conductors extend, said sleeve and conductors being adapted to be twisted together to hold said conductors in position and prevent the ends thereof from being pulled from said coupling member, and means associated with said sleeve and connected to said coupling member for locking said coupling member in position on the ends of said conductors.

3. Apparatus for forming a connection between two wires and the like comprising in combination a member having a pair of parallel wire receiving passageways extending therethrough, the member being adapted to be twisted to securely fasten together the wires inserted through said passageways; a substantially cylindrical coupling member for connecting the ends of the wires projected through the passageways in said first named member and having a longitudinally extending passageway therein and an opening in the side thereof communicating with the passageway, the ends of the passageway in said coupling member being threaded to receive the ends or" said wires, a conducting medium disposed in said opening and covering the ends of the wires positioned in said passageway, means for closing the opening in said coupling member, and means surrounding said first named member and cooperating with said closing means on said coupling member for locking said coupling member in place on said wires.

FRANCIS C. MALONEY. 

